Ischnotelson peruassu Lauren A. Esposito & Humberto Y. Yamaguti & Cláudio A. Souza & Ricardo Pinto-Da-Rocha & Lorenzo Prendini 2017, sp. nov.

Ischnotelson peruassu, sp. nov.

Figures 9 B, 15B, 17B, 19B, 36C, D, 37B, D, 38B, 40

Rhopalurus sp. n. 1: Ubinski et al., 2016: 122.

TYPE MATERIAL: BRAZIL: Minas Gerais: Município Januária: Januária, Parque Nacional Cavernas do Peruaçu: Holotype ♂ (MZSP 31138 / AMCC [LP 9937]), 15°07′26″S, 44°14′28″W, 4–25.i.2009, R.S. Recoder and M. Teixeira, Jr. Paratypes: 1 ♀ (UFMG 4820), 1 subad. ♀ (UFMG 4818), 1 juv. ♂, 1 juv. ♀ (UFMG 4824), 15°09′0 9″S 44°14′30″W, 17–22.x.2010, G.F.B.P. Ferreira.

DIAGNOSIS: Ischnotelson peruassu, sp. nov., differs from its sister species, I. guanambiensis, as follows. Ischnotelson peruassu is larger, varying from 48–59 mm in total length, than I. guanambiensis, which varies from 35–45 mm. Metasomal segments IV, V, and telson are paler in I. peruassu than in I. guanambiensis. The pedipalp chela fingers are similar in color to the chela manus in I. peruassu but noticeably darker than the manus in I. guanambiensis. The pedipalps and legs are sparsely setose in I. peruassu, but covered by fine setae in I. guanambiensis. The carinae of the carapace are less pronounced in I. peruassu than in I. guanambiensis and the carapace more finely granular in I. peruassu than in I. guanambiensis. The dorsal intercarinal surfaces of the metasoma are smooth in I. peruassu and shagreened in I. guanambiensis. Sternite III is not elevated anteriorly in I. peruassu unlike in I. guanambiensis. Finally, the sexual dimorphism of the adult male I. peruassu is less pronounced than that of the adult male I. guanambiensis: the fixed and movable fingers of the pedipalp chela are shallowly curved proximally and the posterior broadening of the metasoma is less pronounced in the former.

ETYMOLOGY: The specific epithet is a noun in apposition, referring to the type locality, a Brazilian state park covered by savanna that protects important caves.

DESCRIPTION: The following description is based on the holotype male unless otherwise noted (for measurements, see table 3). Only characters that differ from the generic description are noted.

Total length: Medium-sized scorpions (total length, 48–59 mm).

Color: Carapace and tergites I–VI brown, tergite VII and metasomal segments I–III dark yellow, metasomal segments IV, V, and telson darker than preceding segments, reddish brown (fig. 40); telson vesicle paler than metasomal segments IV and V, aculeus black; carinae of carapace, tergites, and metasoma dark brown. Sternites yellow. Chelicerae pale yellow; pedipalps yellow, chela fingers similar in color to chela manus; legs yellow, slightly paler than pedipalps.

Carapace: Shape trapezoidal (fig. 15B). Width of anterior margin approximately two thirds that of posterior margin. Anteromedian, median ocular, and posteromedian sulci shallow but well developed, forming single, almost continuous, longitudinal sulcus. Lateral ocular carinae present but weakly developed, central lateral and posterior central submedian carinae distinct, finely granular to costate-granular and fused, forming single nearly continuous, oblique carina, extending along almost entire length of carapace; anterior central submedian carinae distinct, finely granular and separate. Carapace anterior margin with large spinoid granules.

Pedipalps: Pedipalp fingers each with seven oblique subrows (fused basal subrows) of primary denticles and short subrow of terminal denticles (fig. 17 B). Chela manus slightly incrassate, with fixed and movable fingers shallowly curved proximally, in male. Carinae granular to costate-granular except femur and patella prolateral carinae comprising spiniform granules; chela manus proventral and promedian carinae absent.

Legs: Legs III and IV, tibial spurs absent; I–IV, surfaces carinate; basitarsi each with bifurcate prolateral pedal spur; telotarsi each with irregular tufts of fine, acuminate macrosetae.

Sternum: Subtriangular. Median longitudinal sulcus deep throughout, extending from anterior margin to posterior margin.

Genital operculum: Genital opercula suboval, completely divided longitudinally; genital papillae present (♂).

Pectines: Tooth count, 26/26 (♂), 27/27 (♀). Pectinal plate rectangular, width approximately 2× length, median anterior notch present.

Mesosoma: Tergites similar to posterior width of carapace, I–III similar in width, IV and V slightly wider than I–III. Dorsomedian carina absent on I, restricted to posterior half on II–IV, posterior third on VI and V; dorsosubmedian carinae absent on segments I and II, restricted to posterior quarter on III–VI. Tergite VII pentacarinate, dorsomedian carinae present on anterior third but weakly granular. Sternite III not distinctly elevated anteriorly (fig. 19B). Spiracles on sternite III ovoid, width approximately 2× length. Suface of sternites III–VI smooth, sternite VII granular, with four granular carinae.

Metasoma: Metasomal segments longer than wide, but increasing in width posteriorly such that segment V is one third wider than segment I (fig. 37B, D). Carinae well developed, segments I and II with 10 carinae, lateral inframedian carinae of segment III weakly developed; segment IV with 8 carinae; segment V with 5 carinae.

Hemispermatophore: Flagelliform.

Sexual dimorphism: Adult males and females differ as follows. Males are smaller than females in total length. The carinae of the carapace, metasoma, and pedipalps are more finely granular in males than females. The pedipalp chela manus of males is incrassate and the fixed fingers slightly curved proximally (fig. 36D). The chela manus of females is not incrassate (fig. 36D). The metasomal segments are proportionally broader in males, exaggerating the posterior increase in metasomal width, compared to females, in which the metasomal segments are more similar in width. Metasomal segments IV and V, though darker than the preceding segments in both sexes, are relatively paler in females than males.

DISTRIBUTION: This species is known from only two adjacent localities within the Parque Nacional Cavernas do Peruaçu, in the Municipio Januária of northern Minas Gerais state, Brazil (fig. 9B).

ECOLOGY: The known localities are situated on the ecotone of Brazilian caatinga and cerrado, a semiarid environment along the Peruaçu River, close to São Francisco River, which exhibits several microclimates due to topographical variation and the presence or absence of waterbodies. The type specimens were collected on calcareous sandy soil with sparse vegetation, at arid, highelevation localities within the park. The habitat and habitus are consistent with the lapidicolous ecomorphotype (Prendini, 2001b).